2024 was a game-changer for New York public employees taking control of their financial freedom, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing in 2025.
Last December, for example, New York saw the highest number of government workers ever choosing to stop paying union dues in that month.
The trend continued, resulting not only in a new record for the most opt-outs in January, but also the most opt-outs in any month in New York history.
Last month was no exception, breaking the record for the best February in New York history.
In just the first three months of 2025, 517 New York public employees have declared their freedom, costing large government unions an estimated $475,640 in lost revenue for the year ahead.
With average annual dues of around $950, the financial impact is undeniable.
As March winds down, New York has already surpassed its all-time high for the month and is on track to set a new record for opt-outs in a single month.
This surge is adversely impacting two of New York’s largest government unions in particular, the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), AFSCME’s largest local in the U.S., and District Council 37 (DC 37) AFSCME, one of the largest public=sector unions in New York City.
Since our outreach efforts began in the fall of 2022, CSEA, once a dominant force in New York, has been losing members at an alarming rate. Despite its ongoing fearmongering and attempts to discourage members from engaging with us, the losses are only growing.
December, January and February saw some of the largest declines in years.
Meanwhile, DC 37 AFSCME in New York City, once holding an iron grip on over 125,000 members, is feeling the shift.
Recently, DC 37 has tried to undermine our outreach by spreading misinformation about “predatory mailers” in an attempt to scare their members into staying.
Despite these deceptive tactics, however, our relentless outreach continues to help workers discover they don’t have to fund a union that no longer serves their interests.
Just as we’ve seen across the country time and again, when employees learn about their rights, they choose to cancel their dues.
Make no mistake, this is not a passing fad. The Freedom Foundation will continue its work, and as the momentum builds more records will fall.
More workers will discover their right to walk away from union dues and reclaim their financial freedom.
Big government unions will continue to feel the pressure as more employees choose freedom over forced membership.
